Once the British people, during the colonial occupation in India, decided to reduce the number of thriven cobras. They offered a reward for their heads. Local people rushed to destroy snakes, thus having reduced their number, but then, on the contrary, they started to breed snakes for easy earnings. After the reward’s cancellation, the remained cobras were set free by the Indians. Finally, the population of snakes only increased compared to the initial number. Since then, the phrase "cobra effect" meant any actions aimed at solving the problem, but worsening it as a result.